Hair-clipper.



. 'No. 723,650. 7 PATENTED MAR. 24, 1903.

G. H. GOATES. HAIR CLIPPER.

APPLICATION TILED AUG. 9, 1900.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. v

GEORGE H. COATES, WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS HAIR-CLIPPER.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 723,650, dated March 24, 1903.

Application filed August 9, 19 00. Serial No. 26,371. lilo model-l To all whom it may concern:

Beitknown that LGEORGE H. COATES,a citizen of the United States, residing at W'orcester, in the county of WVorcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Hair-Clippers, of which the following is aspecification, ac-

companied by drawings forming a partof the.

same, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a hair-clipper embodying my invention. Fig. 2

.is a central longitudinal sectional view. Fig.

3 is a bottom view of the head of the clipper with the cutting-plates removed in order to disclose the mechanism for actuating the reciprocating cutting-plate. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the comb-plate detached from the clipper. Fig. 5 is a detached view of one of the teeth of the comb-plate. Fig. 6 is a side view of a portion of the head of the clipper, showing one of the lugs in which the handles are pivoted, with a bolt held therein and the spring-actuated latch for'holdi'ng the bolt from rotating. Fig. 7 is a detached view of the bolt on which the actuating-handle is pivoted, withapor'tion of the latching mechanism for holding the bolt from rotating. Fig. 8 isa detached view of the latching mechanism removed from that part of the latch shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a rear viewof the head of the clipper, shown in sectional view on the plane of the'axis of the bolt upon which the actuating-handle is pivoted. Fig. 10 is a detached view of the spring for actu ating the latching mechanism shown in Figs. 7 and 8. Fig. 11 is a detached view of the washer carried by the bolt upon which the actuating-handle is pivoted. Fig. 12 represents in sectional view the spring for reversing the movement of the reciprocating cutting-plate and the device for varying the tension of the spring. Fig. 13 is an enlarged perspective View of that portion of the latching mechanism represented in Fig. 7. Fig. 14 represents in perspective view one end of the upper or fixed handle, and Fig. 15 represents in perspective view one end of the lower or actuating handle.

Similar figures of reference refer to similar parts in the different views. v

-My present invention relates to that class of hair-clippers now in common use, which comprise ahead, a stationary cutting-plate, a reciprocatingcutting-plate, and a pair of handles by which the machine is held, one of said handles being capable of a vibratory motion in order to reciprocate the movable cutting-plate. In clipping-machines'of this class, however, the actuating-handle is provided with an arm which engages the movable cutting-plate and'the handle moves in a line parallel with the plane of the cuttingplate.

My invention hasfor its principal object to arrange the handles so that the actuatinghandle will move in a line other than parallel with the plane of the cutting-plate and preferably at right angles thereto in order to allow the handles to be held in a more natural position in the hand and to enable the actuating-handle to be operated without the use of a projecting lug or horn on the handles, such as are found on the hair-clippers now in use and are shown in the hair-clipper represented in the drawings of Letters Patent of the United States No. 299,580, issued June 3,1884, to Joseph K. Priest.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for .varying the position of the handles relatively to the plane of the cuttingplates .without changing the plane in which the actuating-handle vibrates, also to vary the space between the handles in order to adapt them to the grasp of hands of difierent sizes.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cheaply constructed and readily-detachable comb-plate of light weight by which the length of the cut hair may be regulated,

and I accomplish these objects by means of the novel construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described, and set forth in the annexed claims.

The clipper represented in the accompanying drawings consists of a head 1, having a stationary cutting-plate 2 and a reciprocating cutting-plate 3, sliding back and forth over the stationary cutting-plate in the usual manner and clamped together by means of a clamping-bolt 4t and nut 5, these parts being of the usual form in hair-clipping machines. Machines of this class have heretofore been held by a pair of handles, one of which was attached to or integral with the head 1, and

the other was pivoted within the head, forming a two-armed lever, the shorter arm extending within the head and engaging the rear edge of the reciprocating cutting-plate, while the longer arm projected rearwardly and upward to form an actuating-handle, with the actuating-handle moving in a line of motion parallel to the plane of the cuttingplates. In my improved clipper I pivot the actuating-handle with its axis preferably parallel with the plane of the cutting-plates, and I interpose an intermediate connecting mechanism between the actuating-handle and the movable cutting-plate, which enables the machine to be operated with the handle and the cutting-plate moving in planes at an angle to each other, in the present instance at right angles. This intermediate mechanism may be varied in form and in construction and produce the result desired. In the clipper represented in the drawings I employ a threearmed lever 6, having a hub 7 inclosing the clamping-bolt 4 and journaled within a hollow hub 8, depending from the under side of the head 1. The forwardly-projecting arm 9 of the three-armed lever is bent downward at 10 and enters a hole or mortise 11 in the reciprocating cutting-plate 3. The rearwardlyextending arm 12 is pivotally connected with a screw-threaded link 13, entering the nut 14, Fig. 12, which is attached to one end of a closely-woundspiralspring 15. Theopposite end of the spiral spring 15 is attached to a flanged head 16, provided with a slot 17 to receive a screw-driver, by which the nut 14 may be turned on the screw threaded link 13. The nut 14, spring 15, and flanged head 16 are held in a hollow boss 18, projecting from the side of the head 1, with the flange of the head 16 hearing against the end of the boss in order to hold it from longitudinal movement. The third arm of the three-armed lever extends laterally and is pivotally connected by a link 20 to a rocking disk 21, held upon the bolt 22, which is held in lugs 23 '23, pro

' ijecting from the rear of the head 1.

The disk 21 is rocked in a vertical plane to impart a reciprocating motion in a horizontal plane and in one direction to the threearmed lever 6; moving the rear arm 12 of the three-armed lever in the direction to expand the spiral spring 15 and separate the nut .14 and the flanged head 16. When the rocking disk 21 is released, its motion is reversed by the tension of the spripg 15. The rocking motion therefore of the disk 21 will impart a reciprocating motion to the movable cuttingplate 3 in a plane at right angles to the plane of the disk. The upper handle 24 is provided with prongs 25 25, Fig. 14, which are inserted between the lugs 23 23 and receive the bolt 22. The bolt 22 is provided with a longitudinal groove 26 to receive projecting lugs or spurs 26 on the handle 24, thereby forming a spline connection between the bolt 22 and handle 24, so that as the handle 24 is raised or lowered the bolt 22 will be rocked in the lugs 23.

The lower handle 27 is provided with prongs 28, which are pivoted upon the bolt 22 between the prongs 25 and the rocking disk 21. The rear edge of the disk 21 is provided with teeth 29, which are engaged by teeth 30on a block 31, carrying a pin 32, passing through slots 33 in the handle 27 and terminating at each end in a milled head 34,

by which the block is moved out of engagement with the toothed disk 21 and against the tension of a spring 35, which holds the teeth 30 in engagement with the disk, so that the rocking motion ofthe lower handle 27 upon the bolt 22 will impart a rocking motion to the disk 21. The upper handle 24 is held in a fixed position to enable the lower handle to be rocked when the handles are pressed together by means of a latching mechanism by which the bolt 22 is held from turning in the lugs 23 and also allowing the position of the bolt to be varied in order to adjust the position of the upper handle as desired. The bolt 22 is latched by means of a series of teeth 36, formedin the head 37 of the bolt 22, which are engaged by a pin 38, carried by a rocking latch 39, journaled in a recess in the side of the head 1 and actuated by a spring 40, held in an annular chamber around the head 37, with one end of the spring entering the recess 41 in the head and the opposite end entering a recess 42 in the rotating latch 39, so that the tension of the spring will hold the pin 38 in engagementwith the teeth 36 and lock the bolt 22. The rotating latch 39'is cut away on one side to form a lip 39, which passes beneath the head 37 of the bolt 22, causing the latch to beheld in position.

Attached to the outer end of the rotating latch 39 is an arm 43, by which the rotating latch 39 is rocked against the tension of the spring 40 to disengage the pin 38 and release the bolt, allowing the upper handle 24 to be rocked to change its angle relatively to the head 1, when it is held by the engagement of another tooth on the head of the bolt. The position of the lower handle 27 can also be varied relatively to the disk 21 by withdrawing the toothed block 31 and rocking the handle 27 independently of the disk. By the independent adjustment of each of the handles 24 and 27 theymay be raised orlowered relatively to the head, so as to be operated at different angles within a vertical plane,-or the distance between the handles may be varied in order to adapt them to the grasp of hands of different sizes. In operating my improved clipper the movable cutting-plate is reciprocated by grasping the handles beneath the palm of the hand and the bent fingers with the hand in a vertical or natural position when the cutting-plates are in a horizontal plane, allowing the movablehandle to be actuated without the use of horns or lugs projecting from the handles, as in clippers hitherto made, and thereby enabling the clipper to be used with equal facility in either the right or left hand.

IIO

In order to regulate the length of the cut hair, I raise the stationary cutting-plate beyond the surface of the skin by means of a comb-plate. (Shown in perspective view in Fig. 4.) Comb-plates have long been in use for the same purpose upon hair-clippers; but by my present invention I have so simplified the construction and reduced the cost of the comb-plate as will enable each clipper to be supplied at small expense with several combplates of different heights in order to vary the length of the cut hair. My improved comb-plate consists of a plate 44, extending transversely beneath the clipper and having at each end upturned lugs 45 46, adapted to bearagainst the ends of the stationary plate 2. From the rear lugs 45 elastic bars 47 extend forward, with upturned lugs 48 at their forward ends, which are arranged to pinch the ends of the stationary cutting-plate 2 by the elasticity of the bar 47 and are curved to overlap the upper surface of the plate and draw the comb-plate upward. The plate 44 is provided with a series of mortises 49 to receive the tenons 50 upon the upper edges of the comb-teeth 51, and the plate 44 is inserted in the edge of the comb-teeth 51 and bears against a shoulder 52.

cutting-plate, where it is held by the elasticity of the bars 47 and lugs 48.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a hair-clipper, the combination with movable and stationary cutting-plates and a fixed handle, of a movable handle pivoted to be rocked about an, axis parallel with the plane of the movable cutting-plate, a disk capable of rotating about an axis coincident with the axis of said pivoted handle, intermediate connecting mechanism between said disk and the movable cutting-plate and means for operatively connecting said disk and the movable handle, substantially as described.

2. In a hair-clipper, the combination with a head and movable and stationary cuttingplates and a fixed handle, of a disk capable of rotating about an axis parallel with the plane of the movable cutting-plate, intermediate connecting mechanism between said disk and the movable cutting-plate, whereby the oscillation of said disk will impart a reciprocating motion to the movable cuttinglink connecting said lever and said disk, substantially as described.

4. In a hair-clipper, the combination with a head and movable and stationary cuttingplates of a fixed handle adjustably attached to said head, a disk capable of oscillation about an axis parallel with the plane of the movable cutting-plate, a movable handle pivoted concentrically with said disk and operatively connected therewith and intermediate connecting mechanism between said disk and the movable cutting-plate, substantially as described.

5. In a hairclipper,'the combination with a head and stationary and movable cuttingplates, of a fixed and a movable handle, mechanism for operatively connecting said movable handle and the movable cuttingplate, and means comprising a slidable block for varying the distance between said handles, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a head and Sta-- tionary and movable cutting-plates, of a bolt held by said head and capable of turning therein, of a handle connected to said bolt to rock therewith, means for locking said bolt in a desired position and hold it from rotating, a handle pivoted on said bolt, a disk capable of rocking on said bolt, means for operatively connecting said pivoted handle and said disk, and means for operatively connecting said disk and said movable cutting-plate, substantially as described.

7. In a hair-clipper, the combination with a head and stationary and movable cuttingplates of a fixed handle, a pivoted handle and operative mechanism between said pivoted handle and said movable cutting-plate comprising a three-armed lever having one arm operatively connected with said pivoted handle and another arm engaging said movable cutting-plate, and a spring applied to the third arm to move said lever in one direction, substantially as described.

8. In a hair-clipper, the combination with 'a head and stationary and movable cuttingplates, of a fixed handle, a pivoted handle, a rocking disk provided with teeth, a movable toothed block carried by said pivoted handle and engaging said toothed disk, a spring by which said block is held in engagement with said disk, and means for operatively connect:

tively connecting said handle and said movable cutting-plate, a fixed handle attached to the boltjournaled in said head and having a series of notches,and a spring-actuated latch carried by the head of the clipper and arranged to engage said notches and hold said bolt from rotation, substantially as described.

10. The combination with a stationary cutting-plate of a hair-clipper of a removable comb-plate provided with horizontally-disposed elastic arms connected at their. rear ends with said comb-plate and extending parallel with the edges of the stationary cuttingplate with upturned lugs at the forward ends of said elastic arms adapted to press against the upper surface of the stationary cuttingplate, substantially as described.

11. In a hair-clipper, the comb-plate consisting of a bar, or plate, extending transversely across beneath the stationary cuttingplate of the clipper and provided with a series of mortises, means for detaching said bar, or plate, from the stationary cuttingplate, and comb-teeth provided with tenons held in the mortises of said plate, or bar, substantially as described.

12. The combination with the stationary cutting-plate of a hair-clipper of a comb-plate provided with lugs extending upwardly to embrace the ends of the cutting-plate, horizontally-disposed elastic arms connected at their ends with the comb-plate and extendiug parallel with the edges of the cuttingplate and lugs on the free ends of said elastic arms overlapping the edges of the cuttingplate, substantially as described.

13. A removable comb-plate comprising a slotted plate, and independent teeth having tenons adapted to be upset in the slots Whereby said teeth and plate are rigidly held together.

14. A removable comb-plate comprising a slotted plate, and independent teeth having tenons adapted to be upset in the slots Whereby said teeth and plate are rigidly held together, the plate having elastic. arms at its ends and lugs on said arms.-

Dated this 6th day of August, 1900.

GEORGE H. COATES.

Witnesses:

RUFUS B. FOWLER, M. 0. PRIoE. 

